Iritis - Symptoms of uveitis

One or both eyes may be affected by uveitis. The symptoms can develop suddenly or gradually over a few days.

Signs of uveitis include:

• a painful red eye – the pain can range from mild aching to intense discomfort, and reading or other tasks that require you to focus your eye can make the pain worse
• blurred or cloudy vision
• sensitivity to light (photophobia)
• floaters – shadows that move across the field of vision
• loss of peripheral vision – the ability to see objects at the side of your field of vision
• seeing flashing lights

However, symptoms of pain and redness are usually only present in the most common form of uveitis affecting the front of the eye (anterior uveitis).

When to seek medical advice

Contact your GP as soon as possible if you have persistent eye pain or you notice an unusual change in your vision, particularly if you've had previous episodes of uveitis.

The sooner uveitis is treated, the less likely it is that a person will have permanent problems with their vision.